Entrusted: "The Pastor, the People, the Promise"

2 Timothy 4:1-8 “The Pastor, the People, the Promise”

Vrs 1 We will all meet our Judge 2 Cor 5:10 Paul was motivated by future judgment so therefore he wanted to motivate Timothy that way as well. “I charge you”

Some have suggested that we should not be motivated by reward…but I would suggest that pleasing Christ is a reward that we should all be motivated by. (My kids just love to hear words of approval and affirmation) but in this passage Paul also concludes that there is a heavenly reward for living a life that is pleasing to God…a life of righteousness.

In this passage Paul then is telling Timothy a pastor of pastors, what Christian’s should be reminded of when it comes to righteous living. He speaks to the pastors and the people

Vrs 2 The call of a pastor is to…
-“Preach the Word” Matthew Henry said “It is not their own notions and fancies that they are to preach, but the pure plain word of God; and they must not corrupt it”
Remember the ceter piece of the Word is Jesus
-“Be ready” “instant” Calvin “Overcome the hindrances of being effeminate or slothful, don’t yield to opposition and make excuses for our laziness”
In season-when people want to hear it. Out of season- when they don’t

Use the Scripture for guidance in dealing with the people
-Reprove- conviction (help people realize something is wrong)
-Rebuke (admonish) – disapproval based upon what the word says
-Exhort- Persuade to press on
-“with complete patience and teaching(doctrine)” This should be the attitude of the pastor/preacher. Anytime correction has to happen it should be done in patience and gentleness but rooted in Scripture.

Inevitably if a Pastor is doing this people who persist in sin will be inclined to get angry. And in the next verse Paul speaks about what those people will do


Vrs 3-4
Temptations for the people
-Not to endure sound teaching (I don’t like that / or you have no right)
-Find people who teach what they like to hear (they themselves are the measure of needs to be heard and taught and how things should go) We live in this time and unfortunately democracy has taught us to think like we know what we are talking about.

So the problem is because of our prideful un-teachable spirits we do not want to admit that we are in desperate need of guidance. And true guidance only comes fro the Lord and His Word
-Believing myths or wrong doctrines

A person with a teachable spirit will respond to the preached word. And submit to Godly people when they are sticking with the Scripture

Vrs 5-6 The Pastor and the People
My position as a Pastor is to study God’s Word and have a pulse on the people I minister to so I am able to preach what we all need to hear. The great news for all us is that when we study through books of the Bible or select passages of Scripture to preach through we know it is what God wants us to hear. And then you all will be able to learn how to function as a Christian in your world.

When pastors teach the Word and the people respond
We become able to….
-Think clearly- The only way we can think clearly is if our mind is renewed. Romans 12:2 “do not conform to the world…be transformed”
-Endure suffering- Deal with it and don’t let it stop you
-Tell others about Jesus GOSPEL
-Fulfill what God has given us to do – whatever you feel you are gifted to do and God has enable you to do, keep your focus and do your job
-Live a life of sacrifice

-Unfortunately the trap that Paul is talking about that many Pastors fall into is “fear of man” and they feel they have to bow to what the people want or the people will not come. This I believe comes from low self worth, focusing too much on numerical growth, focusing too much on what every other church is doing and a low view of the power of God’s Word preached

-The trap that people fall into is that they think that church exists for them, so they find a place that speaks to what they want to do or hear.

But the church exists for the Glory of Jesus

Questions we can ask ourselves…
Vrs 7
-“Fought the good fight” Do I do what can to serve Him?
-“Finished the race” If today were the last day did I finish well? (weddings)
-“Kept the faith” Do I keep to sound teaching of the Bible?

Vrs 8
The result for both parties is a promise…a reward for righteous living
The promise

This is why I think it is not only appropriate but Biblical to focus in on the promise…sometimes it is all we have.

Paul was awaiting his death…he could easily say “a life of service and this is what I get… jail time and a death sentence” (your best life now)

Righteous living results in a little something extra in the “goody bag”
Vrs 8 “crown of righteousness” this is a reference to some kind of heavenly reward for those who have lived in righteousness.
Paul reminds in 1 Cor 9:25 that runners in an earthly race run for a prize that does not last but as Christians when we seek after and follow the Lord He rewards us with a crown that will last.

The way we understand that is “those who love His appearing” signify those who live their lives in view of Jesus.

If you are so focused on the Lord you cannot help but live a life of righteousness.